Mon. Dec 23rd, 2024

A few years back I became a “health-conscious” type of person. I watched my diet. As much as possible I refrained from eating pork, meat, salty, oily and processed foods. But one thing I could not let go so easily was coffee! I love coffee – lots of it. I was drinking 4-6 cups every day for the past 10 years or more! My love for coffee started during my elementary days when every morning before going to school, my habit was to drink a cup of  3 in 1 coffee coupled with a piece of bread called “pandesal” in the Philippines.

I did a lot of readings and the views of the so-called experts and of course marketers are always contradicting. Some say that coffee is good and others say it’s bad. Others would say it has lots of health benefits and others say it causes sickness. Anyway, at the start of every year for the past 4 years now, I made a spiritual commitment to pray and fast for 21 days. It’s a “Daniel Fast” as exemplified by Daniel the Prophet in the Old Testament of the Bible. Daniel’s fast was  on  vegetables and water only.  As I did this every January for 4 consecutive years, one thing I’ve noticed that fasting is not only making my spiritual life fresh and strong but it has great health benefits for my physical body as well. I became healthier, slimmer and after the fast I became more conscious of what I’m eating.

This 2018, a great breakthrough happened in my fasting time. Before, I was fasting  but I didn’t let go of my 4-6 cups of coffee a day! But this year I did…and by the grace of God I turned my back from coffee for 21 agonizing days caused by withdrawal syndrome. But the wonderful result? On the 22nd day until now I am only “a cup a day” kind of guy! For so many years I couldn’t let go of 4-6 cups a day of coffee but thanks to God I am now. Honestly I really “don’t” want to totally let it go…it still smells good…tastes good…and probably have a few health benefits too…but…I think a cup a day is already a great achievement!

The good result of this? I am still okay and I feel that I am healthier now than before. I lost a few pounds. I now have a slimmer and  flatter tummy.  I now wake up from a good and relaxing sleep at night. And I become more energized for the whole day…even with only a cup of coffee.

Actually, I’ve found a replacement for my coffee. Another drink. I’ve been drinking lots of this every day. And this made me healthier than before. Do you want to know what drink is this? Come back next time for my next blog post.

Thank you for reading, you can sip your coffee now and if it’s okay, kindly leave a comment below. It would be greatly appreciated.

And I hope you’ve got a few insights too.

Have a wonderful day today and let’s have a cup of coffee? Hmmmm. My apology, I can’t for now…I’ve finished my one cup already.

By Rommel Atanque

Rommel Santiago Atanque is an entrepreneur by profession and a Pastor/Missionary by calling and passion. He loves to inspire his readers and let them realize that in every trial there is a purpose; in every test a testimony; and with the right perspective in life, one can still be happy every single day! He also authored the Live a Happy Life Books. A series of humorous books that make a lot of sense. He also shares the Gospel in today's context and lets God's Word bring joy and laughter to his hearers. He wants them to know that listening to sermons is not boring much less an antidote for sleeplessness. Married for 22 years to Jeralyn Ortiz Palabrica-Atanque with two teenagers Roj Gabriel 18, and Lyl Mikael 16. They had been missionaries in Cambodia for 7 years and are currently based in Iloilo City, Philippines, pastoring Connect Church.